Dutch PM hounding Putin on MH17 tribunal

On Wednesday morning Prime Minister Mark Rutte once again spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the establishment of an international tribunal to prosecute those responsible for the downing of flight MH17. The United Nations Security Council will be voting on the proposal for the tribunal on Wednesday night. The Prime Minister specifically addressed Russia's previously expressed doubts about the timing of this tribunal. Russia feels that this should wait until after criminal investigation into the disaster has been completed. Prime Minister Rutte told the Russian president that making a decision on the tribunal before the facts and indictment have been determined is necessary to avoid the judicial process being politicized. Rutte made an urgent request to Putin to allow the tribunal to be established, to offer room for the perpetrators to be prosecuted. He also reminded him that Russia also signed UN Resolution 2166, which states that all member states have to cooperate in the prosecution of those responsible for the disaster, and that they have an obligation to the victims and survivors of the disaster to do so.